Zimbabwe Voter Registration Fails to Take Off

WASHINGTON— The Zimbabwe’s government’s plan to expand the voter registration and verification exercise by making it ward-based has hit a snag amid confusion and lack of funds.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced last month that the exercise will begin January 3 and run through April.

Zimbabwe has slightly over 5.5 million registered voters, with the number expected to increase when mobile voter registration begins.

The ZEC and Justice Ministry officials say the whole exercise would cost US$21 million. But treasury says for now it can release only US$3 million, only enough for the initial launch.

ZEC sources told VOA that they need about US$8.5 million for buying new motor vehicles, US$3,8 million for hiring vehicles and an additional US$11.4 million for voter education and election-related materials.

ZEC deputy chairwoman Joyce Kazembe told VOA that the exercise is still on ice.